Tech Bytes Niles-Maine District Library

Tech Bytes is a technology podcast, produced by the Digital Services department at Niles-Maine District Library.

In this episode, we talk about the Light Sound Project and we listen to the audio of the April 8, 2024 Total Eclipse.

Tech Bytes is a technology podcast, produced by the Digital Services department at Niles-Maine District Library.

In this episode, we talk about Kanopy, a movie and TV streaming resource from the public library, and an article on Indie Wire, which praises it as a streaming platform with staying power.

Transcript:

[Music - Tech Bytes theme]

Hi, and welcome back to Tech Bytes. I’m your host, Todd, and today, we’re talking about the library-exclusive video streaming app Kanopy. I’ve said many times that I think that Kanopy is the one of the best resources that are available from the public library.

This week, I saw an article on Indie Wire, a film industry website, that also calls Kanopy a “hidden gem” and “the best kept secret” of the streaming industry.

In a moment, we’ll be back to talk about just how Kanopy great is, and why Brian Welk of Indie Wire, sees Kanopy as a streaming platform that has staying power, even while many of its competitors are being consolidated into each other.

[Music - Tech Bytes theme]

Ok, we’re back, and we’re talking about Kanopy. Kanopy is rare in the streaming universe. The content is well-curated and free for public library users. With a library of 35,000 titles that grows by nearly 150 titles per week, it has become a major player in an intensely competitive marketplace.

General Manager of Kanopy, Jason Tyrell, explains the streaming service’s structure to Indie Wire.

“Tax dollars pay libraries, libraries pay Kanopy for access, and Kanopy pays studios to license their content, just as other streaming platforms would.”

When thinking about how much of our tax bill goes to the public library, the cost for a Kanopy user is miniscule compared to what that person may spend on other streaming platforms in a year.

Although the service gets constant requests from users to be able to simply pay for the service like they would for Netflix, Disney+, or Peacock, Tyrell explains that he believes that it is critical that Kanopy remain a “valuable library resource.”

With Kanopy, there are titles that are meant to engage a younger demographic with arty-er indie films and thought-provoking documentaries.

Recently, I heard a colleague at another library refer to himself and people like him as an “A24 dork.” A24 is the film production company that has recently skyrocketed in popularity for the critically successful and sometimes oddball and avant garde films.

Kanopy certainly has plenty of content for the A24 dorks among us, but there’s a lot more too. From world cinema to contemporary classics, it’s hard to find just one title that I want to watch when browsing the service’s library.

And with apps for devices and smart TVs, logging in with your library card and watching diverse, high quality films couldn’t be easier.

Tech Bytes is recorded in Studio A on the lower level of the Niles-Maine District Library, where Niles-Maine cardholders have access to the recording equipment and software that were used to produce this episode.

A text transcript of this episode can be found in the show’s notes.

The article referenced in this episode, Why Kanopy May Be Uniquely Positioned to Survive the Great Streaming Consolidation was written by Brian Welk for indiewire.com.

Thank you for listening, and if you have questions about Kanopy, other library resources, or any other technology question, you can find us on the lower level, at the Library’s technology desk. You can also email us at digitalservices@nileslibrary.org.

If you enjoy listening to this podcast, and want to have easy access every time a new episode is released, please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify.

[Music - Tech Bytes theme]

Tech Bytes is a technology podcast, produced by the Digital Services department at Niles-Maine District Library.

In this episode, we talk about Permission Slip, an app from Consumer Reports which empowers users to take back control of their online personal information.

Transcript:

[Music - Tech Bytes theme]

Hi, and welcome back to Tech Bytes. I’m your host, Todd, and today, we’re talking about privacy. Specifically: what happens with your personal data on the Internet? In my experience, a lot of conversations that I’ve had on this subject end with someone saying, ‘well, my information is already out there, so does it really matter?’ And the answer to that question is: Yes! A new app called Permission Slip, from Consumer Reports, is here to help and give control back to users to decide what happens with their personal information.

In a moment, we’ll get into what this app actually does for consumers.

[Music - Tech Bytes theme]

Ok, we’re back, and we’re talking about Permission Slip. This app, from Consumer Reports, was developed with funding from Omidyar Network, an organization whose mission is to “invest to build more inclusive and equitable societies.”

Permission Slip acts as an Authorized Agent, which is an “intermediary with the authority to send data rights requests on behalf of a consumer.” In other words, someone can give this app permission to contact companies and request that they either delete their data and/or stop selling that data.

Now, a data broker is a company that collects and sells personal consumer information to other entities. Often this is done in service of marketing, but there are many reasons why a company may buy or sell someone’s data.

The Permission Slip app essentially has four main functions:
First, it gives users an easy way to tell companies not to sell their personal information
The next is to allow consumers to tell companies to delete the data that they have on them.
Next, is to allow customers to delete customer accounts on websites that they no longer use.
Last, a user can use the app to report a company if they believe that their personal information is being misused.

When setting up the automatic opt out, a user needs to provide their phone number, address, and sign a waiver that allows Permission Slip to contact companies on their behalf.

While our personal data is in many far flung corners of the Internet, and it may be difficult or impossible to reel it all back in, I appreciate that this free app is giving users the ability to start to take back control of their personal information and data.

Permission Slip is available on both the iOS App Store and the Google Play Store.

Tech Bytes is recorded in Studio A on the lower level of the Niles-Maine District Library, where Niles-Maine cardholders have access to the recording equipment and software that were used to produce this episode.

A text transcript of this episode can be found in the show’s notes.

Thank you for listening, and if you have questions about Consumer Reports (which can be accessed with your Niles-Maine library card), personal data, or any other technology question, you can find us on the lower level, at the Library’s technology desk. You can also email us at digitalservices@nileslibrary.org.

If you enjoy listening to this podcast, and want to have easy access every time a new episode is released, please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify.

[Music - Tech Bytes theme]

Tech Bytes is a technology podcast, produced by the Digital Services department at Niles-Maine District Library.

In this special episode, members of the community and attendees of Maker Fest 2024 try podcasting, and see what it is like to record their voices and stories.

Tech Bytes is a technology podcast, produced by the Digital Services department at Niles-Maine District Library.

In this episode, we talk about Apple's newest product, the Vision Pro. I head over to the Apple store to demo the product and then give my impressions.

Tech Bytes is a technology podcast, produced by the Digital Services department at Niles-Maine District Library.

In this episode, we talk about a November 2023 article for the Brennan Center for Justice entitled "Generative AI in Political Advertising" by Christina LaChapelle and Catherine Tucker.